Automobile door lock



Jan. '6,' 1942.

A. L. NELSON 2,268,892v

AUTOMOBILE noon Lock Filed Feb. 2, 1940" 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR/xaorL/Vaso/v.

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Jan. 6, 1.942. A. L. NELSON AUTOMOBILE DOOR LOCK` Filed Feb. 2, 1940 4Sheets-Sheet 2 A. L.. NELSON 2,268,892

AUTOMOBILE DooR Locx Filed Febqz, 1940 4 sheets-shee't s om @um Y ww R.mh nu Jan. 6, i942.

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Jan. 6, 1942. A. L. NELSON AUTOMOBILE noon vLoox Y 4 Sheets-Sheet 4INVENTOR. 1526077 A. Naso/v. BY f i Filed Feb. 2, 1940 ture of power.

Patented Jan. 6, 1942 Aigott L. Nelson, Detroit, Mich.,

assignor to Ternstedt Manufacturing Company, Detroit, Mich.,

Y. a oorporationof Michigan Application February-2,1940, Serial No.316,916

1o claims. (o1. 29e-T1674) i This invention relates to an automobiledoor lock.

From the standpoint of safety it has become desirable to eliminate theprojecting outside door handle which is turned orA rotated to.retractthe. latch bolt. 'Instead of this projecting outside door handleit has been proposed to substitute therearranged to interengage abolt 6projected by a for a so-called flush outside door handle or a curvedhandle iixed at each end to the door with a push button control for thelatch bolt. 4With either type of latch bolt control rit'is desirable tohave a latch bolt that can be retracted easily.

It is an object of this invention to produce a door latch provided withla bolt which can -be.

retracted easily and with a minimum expendi- This object is achieved byvproviding a latch bolt with means for storing energy as the door isswung open which is arranged to expend this energy in the retraction ofthe bolt preparatory to opening the door.

This invention also contemplates storing energy otherwise wasted in theopening of the door for facilitating retraction of the latch boltpreparav tory to' Vopening the door. This object is achieved bycombining the door check with energy storing means which is energized asthe door check checks the door and deenergized in retracting the latchbolt preparatory to opening the door.

It is also an object of this invention to pro- Y duce an automobile doorlock which is admirably suited for use with a door havinga narrow thinlock pillar.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is an insideV fragmentary view of an au tomobilevehicle door hinged at its forward edgel showing the combined latch anddoor check.

Fig. 2 is a section along the line 2--2 ofFig. l. Fig. 3 is an enlargeddetail of the lock and door check as viewed from without the Yautomotive vehicle.

Fig. 4 is `a section along the line'l-I of Fig. 3.

Fig.5 is a section along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.'

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the toggle broken and thebolt retracted While the door is yet closed. Y

Fig. 7 is a section along the line 1.-1 of Fig. l.

Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig.-6 showing the position of the lockedparts with the door swung partially open.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. door fully opened.

Referring more particularly to the drawings 8 but showing the there isshown a portion I of anautomobile bodyhaving a door 2 hinged at itsforward edge 3. The body pillar 4 is provided with a striker 5 bolt bydraft. link 'pivotally connected Y postll is lfixed on convolute spring1.

The bolt 6 isarranged td be retracted by an energy storing mechanisminthe form of a convolute spring 8y and a lever4 9 connected to-the toVthe lever 4il as at 46 and the other end-of thelink is connected to thebolt 6 with a lost motion connection in the form of a pin I2 whichengages the link-'III in the elongated slot I3. The spring 8 is fixed-atone cend to the post I4 and the other end is fastened to the lever 3 bya lug I5 struck out4 of the lever 3 and turned over the end vof thespring V8. The the support plate I6 .and` the levens is pivoted on thepost I4. The plate I6 is secured to the inner door panel by bolts 26.

It is proposed to 'utilize the energy of .the door as it swingsoutwardly .to energize the spring' 8. Tov this end the door isprovidedwith a door checkin the form of a check link I1 which passes through asuitable opening therefor in thev door pillar I8 andhingedlto the bodyApillar I9 as at V2D. .Thecheck'link I1 is provided with a'rubber bar 22which is slidably supported on the support plate l6. For .slidablymounting the draft bar .22 on the plate I6, the plate is provided withelongated slots 21 and 28 having their longitudinaledges flangedoutwardly from. plate I6. The draft :bar 22 is retained by the flangededges. as illustrated. The draft bar 22 is provided with pressed inportions 29 which engagey the flanged edges'of slots 2,1 and 28 to guidemotion of draft,

bar 22.l A plate'36 secured t'o the back of the portions 23. The plates22 and 38 overlap the plateV I6 on each side ofthe slots 21 and 2'..` asat 3|., .The draft yplate 22 i's connected to lever 3 through a toggleconsisting of `link`s"32 and'33.

, The plate 22 has fixed thereto a pin 34 whichpivupon pin 31.

otally supports toggle link 32*V in elongated slot '35. The .link 32 ispivotally connected to link 33 by pin 36. Link 33 is piyotally supportedon lever 9 by pin 31. A vcoil spring 38 is mounted One end 39 of thecoil spring engages a lug 40 struck Vout of link 33 and biases thetoggle towardover center' position as shown in Fig. 3. The other end 4Iof the spring engages lug 42 turned up from lever 9.

From the above it is evident that-as the door is'swung open the pull ondraft bar 22 is transmitted-through toggle links 32 and 33 to lever 9which winds up or compresses spring 8. Thus when the door isswung'closed, spring 8 must be I0. One end of the draft link isprevented from unwinding until the energy stored therein is to beutilized. To this end a toggle lever is provided in the form of togglelinks 44 and 45. Link 45 is pivotally connected to lever 9 as at 45 andlink 44 has an elongated slot 50 which has a lost motion pivotalengagement with pin I fixed on plate I5. Coil spring 41, mounted on pin5I, biases the toggle to made or over center position, shown in Fig. 3.'I'he toggle links 44 and 45 are pivotally connected by pin 52. Link 45is provided with stop 53 which abuts the top edge of link 44V when thetoggle is in over center position, Fig. 3.

For breaking the toggle from the outside of the door there is provided ahandle 54 pivotally mounted as at and connected by link 55 with arm 51.Link 55 has a lost motion connection with arm 51 in the form of a pin 58fixed to arm 51 which engages link 55 in the elongated slot 59. Arm 51is stamped integrally with togglearm 44. Handle 54 is flush withtheoutside belt molding 50. When handle 54 is swung outwardly to dottedline position, Fig. 2, draft link 55 acts through arm 51 to break toggle44, 45 which permits spring 8 to rotate clockwise, Fig. 3, and retractthe bolt 5.

The toggle 44, 45 can be broken from within` the body by means of slidemember 24 slidably mounted on the plate I5. The plate I5 is providedwith a pin 5I which engages lug 52, Fig. 4, on toggle 45 when the slide24 is raised to break the' toggle 44, 45. To prevent raising of theslide 24 when the door ls open, the slide is provided at its lower endwith pin 53. Slide 22 is provided with a notch 54 which is aligned withpin 53 only when the door is closed, Fig. 6, and which receives the pin53 when the slide 24 is raised. When the door is opened, notch 54 isoii'set from pin 53 so that pin 53 is beneath the lower edge 55 of slide22 which prevents rais? ing of slide 24.

The operation of the latch is as follows: When f the door is closed andthe bolt interengaged with the striker, the position of the parts isshown in Fig. 3. At this time both toggle levers are made and coilspring 8 is under compression. To retract the bolt the toggle 44, 45 isbroken upwardly either by swinging the outside door handle 54 outwardlyor by raising the slide 24 from within the body by means of lever 55.swings above center, that is, a line passing through pivots 45 and 5I,lever 9 is released so that spring 8 can now unwind or utilize itsenergy to retract the bolt. As spring 8 unwinds, lever 3 movesclockwise, Fig. 3, thus pulling draft link I5 to the right, Fig. 3, orto the left, Figs. 1 and 2, retracting bolt 5 thereby permitting thedoor to open. Clockwise rotation of the lever 9 is stopped when pin 34reaches the right hand end of slot 35, Fig. 6. The length of slot 35 issuflicient to permit full retraction of bolt 5 out of interengagementwith striker 5.`

-Y Since it is proposed to utilize the opening movement of the door tpreenergize or reload spring 8, this is achieved as follows: As the dooropens, check link I1 draws slide 22 to the right, Fig. 6, therebycausing cam edge 51, acting through pin 53, to lower slide 24. The forceexerted by slide 22 is transmitted through toggle 32, 33, pin 31 tolever 3, rotating it counterclockwise and again compressing spring 8. Aslever 9 rotates counterclockwise, Fig. 6, toggle 44, 45 is again madeand is returned to over center position by spring 41. This action takesplace during the initial portion of the door movement as it is swungopen. Fur- As pivot 52 ther opening movement of the door causes theoverhanging end 58 of toggle link 33 to engage lug 42 turned outwardlyfrom lever` 9, Fig. 8, thus causing the toggle to break and swing to theposition illustrated in Fig. 9. A pin 10 fixed on plate I5 above the end58 of the toggle is added as a precautionary measure to act as a stopfor breaking the toggle in case lug 42 has not broken the toggle by thetime end 58 engages stop 10. As the toggle 32, 33 breaks over center,lever 8 is rotated slightly counterclockwise, Fig. 8. Since toggle -44,45 is already made or over center, it too must move to the left, Fig. 8.This is permitted by the lost motion connection between the elongatedslot 58 and pin 5I. The door now swings fully open until arrested byblock 2I on the check link I1 abutting the pillar I8. The position oftoggle 32, 33 at this time is shown in Fig. 9.

As the door swings closed, toggle 32, 33 is again straightened by thereturn movement of the slide 22 acting through pin 34 and spring 3 8throws the toggle to over center position, Fig. 3. As the bolt 5 ridesup the striker 5, link I5 remains stationary because pin I2 is free toslide backward in elongated slot I3.

It should be noted from the above description that this door lock iswell adapted for an automobile door having a thin or narrow pillar IIID.As shown, the door is provided with a sliding panel IUI and a pivotedpanel I 82, as shown in the Fisher Patent No. 2,048,605. Since theentire latch mechanism, including the bolt 5 and the retracting motor inthe form of spring 8, is positioned in the window well on the inside ofthe sliding panel IIII. the power forretracting the bolt is not derivedfrom the outside of the door. Therefore it is only necessary to have acontrol mechanism .for the energy storing means 8 on the outside of thedoor in the form of handle 54 and its connection with the toggle 44, 45.'I'hus the power means for lretracting the bolt does not cut across theplane of the sliding panel IIlI and only sui'licient power has to betransmitted about the window IUI to break the toggle 44, 45. Since thepower required to break the toggle is considerably less than thatrequired to retract the bolt, therefore a very thin transmission membercan be used for this purpose.

I claim:

1. In a door hinged to a support and arranged to be opened and closedand having a latch including a retractable bolt mounted on the door, thecombination with said latch of energy storing means mounted on the door,a draft connection between the energy storing means and .the stationarydoor support for energizing the energy storing means as' the door isopened, a draft connection between the energy storing means and theretractable bolt, a manual control for the energy storing means manuallyoperatable to release the energy in said energy storing means wherebythe stored energy is utilized to retract said bolt, and means operatablewhen the door is opened to render the manual control ineiective torelease the energy in said energy storing means.

2. In an automotive vehicle body having a ldoor opening wherein a dooris hinged to the body at an edge of said opening and a check is providedfor limiting the opening of said door and a retractable bolt is carriedby the door, the combination with said check and saidbolt of resilientenergy storing means, connections between the energy storingmeans andthe bolt, a

,2,268,892 connection between thev energy storing means A.manualcontroll ineifective when thel `door is opened whereby the manual'control can be cperated `only when the door is kclosed to release thevenergy in said energy'storing means for retracting the bolt. f

` `Il. In an automobile'body having" a deuropening wherein 'a door ishinged tol the'bod'y at an edge of saidopening and' provided with a re-.tractable latch bolt, the combinationwith said latch bolt of a lever, adraft connection between the lever and the latch bolt, draftvconnections between the edge of Vsaid door opening andthe said leverfor rotating the lever as the door is opened, resilient means connectedto said lever and placed under stress when the lever 'is rotated in theopening of the door, a toggle connected to said lever for retaining thelever in position to stress said resilient means, a manually operatedcontrol for breaking said toggle to release said lever whereby theenergy stored in said resilient means rotates the lever in reversedirection to retract the bolt, the said toggle being returned to madeposition by rotation of the lever during vthe opening of the door.

link, the said 'draft link and first toggle rotating the lever as thedoor is opened, resilient means cgnnected to said lever and placed understress when the lever is rotated in the opening of the door, a'secondtoggle connected to said lever for retaining the lever in position tostress said resilient means, a manually operated control for breakingsaid second toggle to release said lever whereby the energy stored insaid resilient .means rotates the lever in reverse ldirection to retractthe bolt, the said second ytoggle being returned to madey position byrotation of the lever during the opening of the door.

5. In an automobile body having a door opening wherein a door is hingedto the body at an' edge of said opening and a retractable latch bolt isprovided on said door, the combination with said latch bolt of. a lever,a draft connection beis provided on said door, the combination with saidlatch" bolt of a lever, a draft connection between thelever and latchbolt, a draft link connected to the edge of the door opening, a. firsttoggle connecting the-said lever and the draft link, the said draft linkand first toggle `rotating the lever as the door is opened, resilientmeans connected to said lever and placed under f' stress when vthe leveris rotated in the opening tween the lever and the latch bolt, draftconnecl tions between the edge of said door opening and the said leverfor rotating the lever as the door is opened, resilient means connectedto said lever and placed under stress when the lever is rotated in theopening of the door, a toggle connected to said lever for retaining thelever in position to stress said resilient means, a manually operatedcontrol for breakingv said toggle to release said lever whereby theenergy stored in said resilient means rotates the lever in reversedirection to retract the bolt, the said toggle being returned to madeposition by rotation of the lever during the opening of the door, andmeans connected to said manual control for rendering the sameineffective to break the toggle when the door is opened. l A

8. In an automobile body having a door opening wherein a door is hingedto the body at an edge of said opening and a retractable latch boltofthe door, a second toggle connected to said "lever for retaining thelever in position to stress said resilient means, a manually operatedcontrol for breaking said second toggle to release said lever wherebythe energy stored in said resilientmeans'rotates the lever'in reversedirection to retract the bolt, the said second toggle 'being returned tomade position by rotation of the `lever during the opening of'the door,and

'means for breaking the first toggle after the second toggle hasreturned 'to made position whereby further opening of the door isineiective to rotate said lever.

7. In an automobile-body having a door opening wherein a door is hingedto the body at an edge of said opening and a retractable latch bolt isprovided on said door, the combination with said latch bolt of a supportplate, a lever rotatably mounted on the support plate, a draftconnection between the lever and the latch bolt, a draft link having oneend connected to the edge of the door opening, a toggle connecting theother end of the draft connection with the said lever for rotating thelever as the door is opened, a spring connected to the lever and placedunder stress when the lever is rotated in the opening of the door, asecond toggle having one end connected to the lever and a lost motionconnection ,y

between the other end of the second toggle and the support plate, thesaid second. toggle serving to retain the lever in position to stresssaid spring and breakable to release said lever whereby the energy`stored in said spring rotates the lever in reverse direction to retractthe bolt, and means actuatable during the opening of the door to breakthe first toggle after the lever has been rotated to stress the springand the second toggle is returned to made position to vhold the lever inspring stressing position.

8. In an automobile body vhaving a body pillar and a door hinged to thebody pillar and a retractable latch bolt in said door, the combinationwith said latch bolt of a supportv plate, a lever pivoted between itsends on the support plate, a

draft connection between one end of the lever` and the latch bolt, adraft link pivotally connected to the body pillar, a toggle pivotallyconnected at one end to said lever and a lost motion connection betweenthe other end of the toggle and the draft link whereby when the toggleis made opening of the door acts through the draft link and toggle torotate the lever in one direction, a spring stressed by the rotation ofthe said lever, a second toggle having one end connected to the leverand the other end connected to the support plate for releasably lockingthe lever in spring stressing position when the second toggle is made,manually controlled means for Vbreaking the secondtoggle whereby thespring rotates the lever and retracts the bolt permitting the door to bes'wung open, a stop against which the first toggle abuts in the openingof the door after the second toggle is made to break the first togglewhereby further opening of the door is ineffective to rotate said lever.l

v 9. In an automobile having a door swingably mounted on a support andhaving a window well in said door and a'window panel arranged to retreatinto said well and alatch including a retractable latch bolt mounted inthe well on the inside of the window, the combination with said latch ofmechanical power means in the window well on the inside of the windowpanel for retracting the latch bolt, connections between said mechanicalpower means and the door support for energizing the power means duringthe opening ofthe door, and a manual control on the outside of the doorfor said power means including a connection passing about an edge of thewindow panel actuatable to release the energy in said power means forretracting the latch bolt.

10. In an automobile having a supportand a door swingably mounted onsaid support with a window well in said door and a window panel 1message arranged to retreat into said Welland a latch including aretractable latch bolt mounted in the well on the inside of the 'windowpanel, the combination with said latch oi' mechanical energy nectionpassing about an edge of the window panel for direct connection of thecontrol to said togglewhereby operation of the manual control breaks-thetoggle and deenergizes lthe energy storing means for retracting thebolt.

ALGOTT NELSON.

